Music: Zara Larsson sings "Lush Life"
nms_108_audrey_watchiba_drc_july_24_2016.mp3 |
New Mainers Speak |
|
Audrey Watchiba was originally from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo and moved to the United States in the summer of 2012. She is now a rising 7th grader at King Middle School in Portland, ME. In a very authentic voice, she shares her life experiences. Audrey tells about her impressions of school, her culturally diverse circle of friends, and her upcoming trip to Washington DC through a YMCA camp. Music: Zara Larsson sings "Lush Life"
Germain is originally from Democratic Republic of Congo. He studied journalism and communications in college and then taught English and worked for several NGOs. More recently, he earned a Master's Degree in Conflict Resolution and Coexistance from Brandeis University in Waltham, MA. He volunteers with the Portland Center for Restorative Justice. Music: "I Miss My Friend" sung by Darryl Worley (2002). Click on song title, above, to hear it, as it was disconnected from the recording below. However, Germain's favorite version of this song was originally sung by Tammy Waynette and George Jones.
Coco arrived in Portland, ME earlier this year (February 2015). He grew up in a family of 5 children, his father was an engineer and his mother a teacher. He studied law at the University of Lubumbashi, in the southern most part of Democratic Republic of Congo. For the past ten years he has worked in customer service for multi-national corporations in South Africa. Today he is polishing his skills and preparing to re-tool for a new career in ultrasound/sonography. While he awaits his work permit Coco studies with Portland Adult Education and volunteers with the Bicycle Coalition of Maine and Portland Gear Hub. Music: Papa Wemba sings "Maria Valencia"
Shima is the eldest of four sisters born to parents from Eastern DR Congo. She lived in Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda before coming to Concord, NH then, finally Portland, ME, when she was 16. Now through her work, Shima uses everything that she learned about adapting to new cultures, to help establish the New Mainers Integration Center. The center is currently in it's formative stage but the organizers hope to welcome foot traffic early next year. Immigrants will be able to come in to the center, eventually, to receive guidance on where and how to get started in their unique process of becoming financially independent citizens. The plan is that all this will be delivered with a cultural sensitivity, and an appropriate language, in a judgment-free zone. Help will include face-to-face resource sharing regarding everything a new arrival might face: job training, resume writing, education, health care, policies, customs, literacy, laws of the land, housing, and much more. It will be an information clearinghouse with people on hand to help new arrivals access the multitude of community supports available to them. For more information you can contact Shima, the future Program Director of the New Mainers Integration Center. Music: "Plus Vivant" by Lokua Kanza
Ephrem Bisimwa is from Bukavu in the South Kivu Provence of Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. He grew up there, one of nine children, the son of a teacher (and later an employee of the state) and a farmer. He got his bachelor's degree in law and then worked as a journalist/radio broadcaster before working with victims of war at the Panzi Hospital. During the winter of 2014 Ephrem and his family moved to Portland, ME after winning a Diversity Visa through the US government. Since arriving he has worked as a laborer and speaks about the jobs he has had as he makes his way in this new culture, learning English and raising a family, as he goes. Music: Madilu System sings "Si je savais ca."
Fiston moved to Maine four years ago with his family. He left a budding gospel music career in Democratic Republic of Congo and has enjoyed making many connections here in the music world, since his arrival. He is releasing a new CD in August and during this broadcast played two songs from that album; one live and one recorded. Fiston sings, plays keyboards/piano and guitar and enjoys sharing his music as a gospel/funk/contemporary and global musician. FMI: visit Fiston Seba on facebook. Or you can attend the big event: August 15th, 5:30-8pm at The Rock Church, 66 Gorham Rd, Scarborough, Maine 04074. Music: Live in the studio: "Ananipenda" and recorded - "I Am Born Again."
Gina was born into a large family in DR Congo, spent her young adult life in Belgium where she trained at L'ecole Hotelierie de Namur as a pastry chef before coming to the US four years ago. Gina arrived in Maine less than a year ago and loves Portland for the kindness, support and opportunity she has found here. Music: Mokongo na Yesu by L'Or Mbongo
Georges speaks about cultural differences and culture shock that he has witnessed through his experiences in two very different worlds: rural Congo and urban Maine. He is the author of Ladder to the Moon: A Journey from Congo to America and takes some examples from his writing. He also calls upon each of us to consider what we might to do to lend support to refugees as well as to eliminate the causes of displacement as we approach World Refugee Day, a topic he understands well. Music: Israel Mbonyi sings "Yankuyeho Urubanza"
John is a minister who was born and raised in Eastern DRC and was later called to work with victims and their offenders in post-genocide Rwanda. In an effort to bring more peace to the region, John employed an alternative theory of justice called Restorative Justice. It is built on the indigenous practice which involves victims and offenders coming face to face in order to have recognition of guilt, reparation of harm, and restoration of trust in and among the members of the community.
|
Archives
March 2021
Upcoming Show
Please enjoy the archives. There are no new shows scheduled. 2021 Categories
All
|